CAIRO —
Egypt's presidential frontrunner Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said on Monday the Syrian civil war must be resolved through peaceful means, indicating Egypt would not support an armed intervention there, something previously suggested by some Arab states.

Most of Syria's political and armed opposition and some Arab states had previously asked for an international military operation in Syria to end a three-year-old war.

Asked about his views on the Syrian conflict, Sissi said: "We have to find a peaceful exit as a solution."

Sissi's comments, in a televised interview with Sky News Arabia, indicates Egypt's future stance on Syria if the former army chief wins, as expected, a presidential vote on May 26-27.

Egypt's former president, the Islamist Mohamed Morsi, who was ousted by Sissi last July after unrest against him, had publicly endorsed the uprising and cut diplomatic ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The current army-backed authorities have accused Morsi of sending Islamists to fight against Assad in Syria.

"The number of terrorist elements there created an attractive spot for terrorism," Sissi said.